Valley to get feet wet with Dyngus events

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

Dyngus Day – the age-old spring celebration in which participants can expect to get doused with water – has been marked with celebrations in some U.S. cities for decades.

Now it is gaining a foothold in the Mahoning Valley.

On Monday, the day after Easter, Dyngus Day events will take place at three area locations: The Casual Pint in Boardman, Rhine Haus Bier Hall in Youngstown and Rolling Mills in Girard.

Dyngus Day has its roots in Poland, where young people would cast off the restrictions of Lent. Young men would start by splashing girls with buckets of water, who would retaliate with a volley of perfume.

For years, members of PolishYoungstown would take bus trips to celebrate the day in Buffalo, N.Y., and Cleveland.

This year, the group is staying home in hopes of starting an Easter Monday tradition that they hope will one day take its place alongside ethnic celebrations such as St. Patrick’s Day and Cinco de Mayo.

Celebrants should come prepared by bringing a squirt gun.

At the Casual Pint, which is in the Shops at Boardman Park, the festivities will take place from 4 to 10 p.m. Kazmerski Polish Kitchen and Babcia’s Lunchbox will be on hand to provide Polish food and music.

At Rhine Haus, on North Phelps Street, downtown, an all-day buffet with a variety of Polish food will be available for $8.99 (lunch) and $12 (dinner). Polish beer and vodka will be sold, and Del Sinchak and his Orchestra will perform from 6 to 9 p.m.

At Rolling Mills Bar and Grill, 1025 S. State St., Girard, the Penn-Ohio Polka Pals will celebrate Dyngus Day with live music by Rex Taneri and Mikey Dee.